The principal aim of the OECD Environmental Performance Review (EPR) programme is to help member and selected partner countries improve their individual and collective performance in environmental management by:
helping countries assess progress in achieving their environmental goals
promoting continuous policy dialogue and peer learning
stimulating greater accountability from governments towards each other and public opinion.
This is the fourth EPR of Sweden. It examines the country’s environmental performance since the previous review in 2014. Progress in achieving domestic objectives and international commitments provides the basis for assessing Sweden’s environmental performance. Such objectives and commitments may be broad aims, qualitative goals or quantitative targets. A distinction is made between intentions, actions and results. Assessment of environmental performance is also placed within the context of Sweden’s historical environmental record, present state of the environment, physical endowment in natural resources, economic conditions and demographic trends.
The OECD is grateful to the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise for providing information and comments, organising the review mission (13-17 May 2024) and virtual policy mission (18 October 2024), as well as for facilitating contacts inside and outside government institutions.
Thanks are also due to the representative of the examining country, Thomas Pedersen (Denmark), for participating in the review.
The authors of this report are Nicolina Lamhauge, Frédérique Zegel, Kathleen Dominique and Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras of the OECD Environment Directorate, under the co-ordination of Frédérique Zegel. Nathalie Girouard and Frédérique Zegel provided oversight and guidance. Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras provided statistical support, while Lydia Servant provided administrative support. Fiorella Cianchi provided communications support. Mark Foss copy-edited the report. Preparation of this report also benefited from inputs and comments from Olof Bystrom, Katherine Hassett, Hyunjeong Hwang, Katia Karousakis, Anita King, Frithjof Laubinger, Jon Pareliussen, Mikaela Rambali, Katarina Svatikova, Tuva Werner Torgersen and Klas Wetterberg of the OECD Secretariat as well as Mathilde Fajardy, Carl Greenfield, Oskar Kvarnstrom and Divya Reddy of the International Energy Agency.
The OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance discussed the Environmental Performance Review of Sweden at its meeting on 11 December 2024 and reviewed and expressed support for the Assessment and Recommendations.